Chapter 43

With a smile on her face, sakeena read the message from her phone. She just wish Jafar was with her right now. She does love him with every fibre of her being andstill surprised at how all this feelings developed quickly. For one,she isn't a type of person to fall too quick for a guy, in fact jafar was the first person she has ever love this much. He just... He just makes her so happy and full. She love him so dearly that she wish he wasn't traveling abroad, she wish he would just come over to her parents house to introduce himself as her fiance. But what scares her most is, she wasn't sure if her dad would approve of him as her husband because of his present status. Her father wouldn't allow her to marry a poor man, so he once told her. But not withstanding, Jafar isn't a poor man but still ,he isn't leaving with his parent, so no one would believe her . with time she will some day muster the courage to tell them about him.

I will and I must, she tried assuring herself.

Her phone rang besides the her , her face brightened like a Christmas light thinking it was Jafar. She quickly pick the phone from her bed and wanted receiving the callbut her hand paused midway when she took note of the number. She knew she had seen this phone number somewhere but she just couldn't pinpoint where. She Stare at the number that looks foreign to her. She decides to pick it ,anyways she will find out whose own it was.

" Hello? "

She was met with silent. She looked confused, why will someone just call and wouldn't say anything. " hello? , is someone there? " she asked again

Still, she was met with silence " Hel_

" Sana" the person choked out.

Sakeena brows shot up, surprised. She only knew just one person that calls her by that name and it's been two years now since they last contacted each other. Well, she tried contacting but her efforts were to no avail, so she gave up.+

" Ram? Is that you? "

Sakeena was met with a slight chuckle " so you still haven't forgotten your nickname for me? " rahama questioned

.

A smile graze sakeena's lips" same as you've not forgotten yours for me"

Rahama smile, sadly. She had miss this girl so damn much, the only true best friend she once had.

The line went silent for a while , both weren't sure of what else to say. They have alot to tell one another. Alot of things had change by now but they pray that their friendship still stands like before

" so, how have you been?" sakeena asked since she noticed that rahama wasn't ready to say anything. Though,she doesn't blame her.

" Good,am doing good.... You? "

" Same, Ram. I'm doing ok"

" I -i-i am so sorry " rahama choked out

" you don't need to be sorry rahama,i have forgiven you long time ago. We are friends ,remember? "

" you have? " rahama was speechless

" of course. If you know how I had wished and hope to see you call. I really missed you so much rahama "

" I swear I missed you too. I know I have wrong you, please find it in your heart to forgive me. I regret ever pushing you away. please Sana, forgive me? " almost at the verge of tears

" please stop saying that. I have told you already, I have forgiven you long long time ago " sakeena chuckles, tried making the mood lively

" Still, I owe you an apology "

Sana sighed dramatically " Since you insist on apologizing when I've already told you that I have forgiven you, let's meet up tomorrow then. It's will be all on you. The pay, I mean?"

The latter smile broadly in agreement " sure, I'm up for it . I will pay"

" Then that's settled then. So tell me, how i my in-law to be is doing" Sakeena asked, Always the nosey one among the two of them.

Ram snort " you will never change, wallahi"

" please tell me now. How is it going with you two? "

" And how did you know that I am bestowed ? " asked rahama, surprised

" look at you, have you forgotten about the paparazzi? Almost everyone in KADUNA knows by now ."

" Really? God I never knew" she asked scared

" abeg don't be scared. It isn't something to be scared of. I wouldn't mind if my fiance and I are the topic of the year on media. In fact it's will increase my popularity " sakeena joked

" you're not serious " rahama snort

" tell me about him already "

" fine. We aren't in good terms right now " she said with a shrug

" what! Why? "

" well, he turns out to be a liar "

" why would you say that. What happened? "

" I -i-i " she sighed " do you know what? I promise to tell you tomorrow when we met up"

Sana felt bad for her " OK then"

" so tell me, how is my in-law also doing?. I'm quite sure their is someone who had already stolen your heart"

Sana burst into laughter " and you said I'm too nosey. So tell me who is nosey now? "

" just tell me now" rahama couldn't wait to know

" OK fine. Yes there is someone "

" more, I want more of the story now"

Sakeena chuckles " don't worry, when we meet tomorrow, I'll tell you"

" OK fine" rahama said " Sana? "

"yes? "

" thanks for not judging me. Thank you "+

" Don't be silly, Ram. I will never judge you"

" thank you. So what time and place are we going to meet? "

" promise to text it to you tomorrow "

" OK then, goodnight "

" yeah, night "

They both hang up the same time.

Sakeena smile never wavers. She was too surprised and still baffled that rahama just called. She never once thought that this would happen today. Gush,she miss her so damn much and just couldn't wait to meet up tomorrow. Alot of things needed to be said and she just can't wait for it.

***

Upon waking up, Mansir Rang beside him. He groaned, annoyed. Here he thought he could have a nice and wonderful sleep sincehe slept late yesterday but some people just won't stop bothering him. He toss and turn and then decided to tend to the ringing phone.

" hello" growl out, making the person at the other side of the phone shaken up in fear.

" Boss? " said his personal investigator

" What do you want again, Jabar" he asked annoyed

" I found the girl, boss"

His eyes shot up quickly at this utterance " where and when"

" At a market square with some of her friends, yesterday "

" Market square? Don't tell me all this while she still leaves in Kaduna? "

" yes boss"

" Then why didn't we know all this while" he wonders

" boss, that's because she dress differently now "

With furrowed brows " how? "

" She is always wearing a hijab and Niqab around her face"

Sadiq burst into laugh " hijab and niqab? "

" yes boss "

" who does she think she can fool"he snort " does she goes to the same university ? "

" yes boss, she still. The only thing that changes is her dressing "

" OK. I'll call you later when I need you" he hang up

" hijab and niqab? " Mansir was flabbergasted. he chuckles mockingly " Kamilah, you're too full of wonders"

Mansir decides to take a bath. He has so many things to do today. First he needs to talk to rahama. He prays she will believe his lies. He won't stop at any length until she becomes his. She is mine to keep, he assured himself. He won't let any one comes his way, no one can stop him.

***

Rahama woke up feeling happy today and she prays her day will continue to go smoothly. What surprises her is that not once did she even think of Mansir. The bitter truth is that she is so disappointed at his betrayal. He betray her trust, he used her for granted and she still wants more explanation for him. Yes, she needed it she want more. She just pray he has a better reason to justify his action, if not she doesn't know what she can do.

She sauntered downstairs to the kitchen and already dressed for work. She quickly have some water and went to join the rest on the dinning table. She greeted aunty yasira first since she was closer and then her dad. She paused when he disregard her greeting. What happened yesterday flashed before her, she knew she owe her dad an apology. She was angry and bitter yesterday, she doesn't blame Mansir for all of it, she too was at fault too. If she had shine her eyes ,she would have seen the truth before her.

" Dad?"

" what is it again rahama? What do you want? "

She stood speechless " please dad don't do this. I'm sorry for last night, I didn't mean for any of it to happen. Please forgive me dad" her lips quivers

Yasira also pleaded with him with her eyes " please alhaji "

He sighed " fine. I've forgiven you"

" really? " she asked happily . She ran to hug him so tight " please don't be mad at me, papa"

" little one, you were the cause of it. You make me do the unexpected " he also had his arms around her

" I promise, I won't repeat that again" she assured when she pull away.

" I hope so, little one"

Yasira smiled at the Duo. They look so charming when they are like this.

" Rahama have your seat, I prepared your favorite. Toast bread and egg with a cup of tea, you like? "

" I love" rahama admitted

" have your seat let me serve you, dear"

" don't worry aunty, I will do it myself " she smile thankfully at yasira

" OK then"

Alhaji felt proud. He was happy seeing rahama and yasira behave like this . He had yearned to see this day, he had pray and hope. All thanks to Allah that day has finally come and he is very happy for that.

***

Since sadiq had already Resigned, he decides to keep himself busy at home. Jafar had already left for work and would also be resigning today as their flight is going to take off tomorrow by 2pm. They just can't wait to leave.

He thought of yesterday's dinner ,remembering rahama's face. He chuckles softly. Truth be told she is beautiful, with an angelic face. She is more likeable with her mouthclosedbut when she opens it she is another thing.

What keeps baffling him is that , he wants to know what actually happened to her that turns her into a rude person. The more he looks closer at her, all he sees is a young lady who is trying hard to be what she isn't. Her mouth could be lying buy her eyes doesn't, they held alot of emotions. Her eyes says a different story, her eyes held so much misery.

What is the misery? He asked himself

He knew it isn't of his concern, he knew sheis with his brother ,but he also can't stop thinking of her. No matter how hard he tries to stop, he couldn't and he doesn't want to. What is happening to me ya Allah?

Why do I feel this way for that girl?

His phone rang beside him. " hello? "

" Sadiq guess what!. I just resigned " said an enthusiastic Jafar

Sadiq shook his head " you can't be serious. So you just called to tell me how happy you were for resigning? "

" hey, can't I be happy? It my first time resigning so allow me to celebrate " he admitted childishly

Sadiq sighed already given up " since you have nothing important to say I'm hanging up "

" wait" shouted jafar

" What? "

" I thought of celebrating our soon traveling abroad together with sakeena and she told me that she invited a friend of hers " said jafar

" so? Why are you telling me this? "

" ermm, ermm I don't know if you could you know, keep the friend company. Please don't take it the wrong way, I'm not setting a date for you, no. It a favour sakeena asked and I don't want to disappoint her, please"

" Goodness, you can sell someone, wallahi. " he sighed " so who is the friend? I hope it's not some spoilt brat?"

" Don't worry. Sakeena assured me that she isn't like that. I promise, she isn't like your rahama girl and in fact she is already bestowed " Jafar joked2

Sadiq glares" you better stop it already"

" OK fine, so can you make it? "

" what do you have me do? Of course I will. Just text the address to me"

" OK fine"